âTell me about yourselfâ is one of the most common interview questions out there, which means knowing how to answer it is essential. The following guide breaks down all facets of this question so you can respond in a way that makes interviewers eager to hear more. Table of contents The Reason Interviewers Ask This […]
The post How To Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” (With Examples) appeared first on Career Sherpa.
The dreaded interview question, "Tell me about yourself," stumps a lot of folks. People of all ages and experience levels often fail to answer this one correctly, in a way that conveys meaningful information to the interviewerâinformation they will actually use to consider your candidacy.
First off, please know they are not asking you for a boring chronological recap of your professional history. That is the quickest way to lose their interest! What an employer is really asking is, âWhy should I hire you?"
That being said, here's my three-step process for giving them an answer that gets their attention.
Enthusiasm for solving a business problem they need help with is the quickest way to get a hiring manager's attention. Let's face it, they aren't hiring you for the heck of it. You need to explain how you can make things better for an employer.
You are a business-of-one. At the end of the day, you provide a service for your employer. By talking about the problems you love to solve and how you go about solving them, the hiring manager will clearly see the type of employee you are and could be for their company.
Companies hire people who can save and/or make them money. So when you provide examples from your personal and professional past that demonstrate the value your problem-solving skills bring, you are proving your worth.
It also shows that you are thinking like an employee who understands that their job is to make things better for the company.
The research you conducted on the employer before your interview will come in handy here. Connect your past accomplishments and problem-solving experience to the current problems you know the company is trying to solve (from your research). You'll impress the hiring manager with your knowledge of the company and you'll further answer the question, "Tell me about yourself."
Let them know how you hope to grow your skills and abilities by taking your problem-solving skills to the next level. Also, mention how passionate you are about what the company does and how you feel connected to its mission (echoing what you wrote in your disruptive cover letter). This lets the employer know you plan to focus on being successful and expanding your value to the organization if you get hired.
Employers love candidates who clearly plan to hold themselves to a higher standard. If you make it to the last round of interviews, you should consider coming prepared for your final interview with a 30-60-90 day plan.
But that's the long game. In your first interview with an employer, combining your problem-solving expertise and your passion for the company in your explanation is an excellent way to answer the interview question, "Tell me about yourself."
If you follow this three-step guideline when answering, "Tell me about yourself," in your next job interview, I guarantee you'll create a compelling story that will have the employer sitting up and taking notice. This is your chance to sell your valueâdon't pass it up!
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Many employers now use behavioral-based interview questions to learn more about a candidateâs past experience as a predictor of future performance. These behavioral interview questions are usually the "tough" interview questions that interviewers use as a method of determining whether or not a candidate is a good fit for the open position.
While you canât predict every question you will be asked during the interview process, itâs a good idea to familiarize yourself with some of the more common tough interview questions.
Thereâs really no easy answer to this tough interview question, but it helps to be honest with the interviewer. No one is perfect and if weâre truthful, there are certain things that we can all improve. Try not to provide too much damaging information like an inability to arrive at work on time or at all. This is definitely a loaded question, so tread lightly, but perhaps mention an area that you are working to improve.
Interviewers are generally looking for an answer that indicates you can handle multiple priorities and projects at the same time. An answer stating that stress is a natural part of life and you feel equipped to handle the challenges of the job and balance them with the rest of your life may be just the answer that earns you the job.
The interviewer is probably not as concerned with the actual decision, but rather how you handled the situation and the outcome. This question is asking about your problem-solving skills and ability to fix an issue.
Employers want to hire ethical people with integrity, so donât feel like youâve been thrown a curve ball if an interviewer asks you a tough interview question about whether or not youâve ever lied or been faced with a moral dilemma. As is the case in most situations, honesty is the best policy in answering these questions.
This seemingly easy interview question is harder than it may seem for many candidates. Itâs easy to ace this one if you have a prepared and practiced âelevator speechâ that includes a few highlights from your career history. This is an opportunity to emphasize your best career accomplishments, so take advantage of this question if you are asked during the interview.
Sometimes an interviewer will ask a question about what you didnât like about a former supervisor or colleague. These questions are asked to gauge how well you work with others, so be diplomatic in your answer and donât throw anyone under the bus with negativity.
Another great way to prepare for tough interview questions is to ask your friends about the most bizarre and off-the-wall questions they have been asked. You may be surprised at the type of responses you receive!
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Interview questions are not as straightforward as they seem, and answering just one question incorrectly may put you out of the running for a job.
The takeaway? Be ready to read between the lines.
Here are seven of the most common interview questions, what the hiring manager is really asking, and how you should respond:
What the hiring manager is really asking...
"How does your education, work history, and professional aspirations relate to this position?"
How to respond: Select key work and education information that shows the hiring manager why you are a perfect fit for the job and for the company.
For example, a recent grad might say something like, "I went to X University where I majored in Y and completed an internship at Z Company. During my internship, I did this and that (name achievements that match the job description), which really solidified my passion for this line of work."
What the hiring manager is really asking...
"Does this position fit into your long-term career goals? Do you even have long-term career goals?"
How to respond: Do NOT say you don't know (even if you don't) and do not focus on your personal life (it's nice that you want to get married, but it's not relevant). Show the employer you've thought about your career path and that your professional goals align with the job.
What the hiring manager is really asking...
"Are you self-aware? Do you know where you could stand to improve and are you proactive about getting better?"
How to respond: A good way to answer this is with real-life feedback that you received in the past. For instance, maybe a former boss told you that you needed to work on your presentation skills.
Note that fact, then tell the employer how you've been proactively improving. Avoid any deal breakers ("I don't like working with other people.") or cliché answers ("I'm a perfectionist and I work too hard.").
What the hiring manager is really asking...
"Are you a hard worker? Am I going to have to force you to produce quality work?"
How to respond: Ideal employees are intrinsically motivated, so tell the hiring manager that you find motivation when working toward a goal, contributing to a team effort, and/or developing your skills. Provide a specific example that supports your response.
Finally, even if it's true, do not tell an employer that you're motivated by bragging rights, material things, or the fear of being disciplined.
What the hiring manager is really asking...
"How do you respond to failure? Do you learn from your mistakes? Are you resilient?"
How to respond: Similar to the "greatest weakness" question, you need to demonstrate how you've turned a negative experience into a learning experience.
To do this, acknowledge one of your failures, take responsibility for it, and explain how you improved as a result. Don't say you've never failed (Delusional much?), don't play the blame game, and don't bring up something that's a deal-breaker ("I failed a drug test once...").
What the hiring manager is really asking...
"Are you genuinely interested in the job? Are you a good fit for the company?"
How to respond: Your goal for this response is to demonstrate why you and the company are a great match in terms of philosophy and skill. Discuss what you've learned about them, noting how you align with their mission, company culture, and reputation.
Next, highlight how you would benefit professionally from the job and how the company would benefit professionally from you.
What the hiring manager is really asking...
"Can you think on your feet? Can you handle pressure? Can you think critically?"
How to respond: When faced with a seemingly absurd question like this one, it's important you're not caught off guard.
Resist the urge to tell the interviewer the question is stupid and irrelevant, and instead walk them through your problem-solving thought process. For this particular question, you would talk about how many people are in the U.S., where couches are found (homes, hotels, furniture stores), etc.
As with other parts of the job application process, it's a good idea to solicit feedback from family, friends, and former colleagues. Try out your answers to each of these questions with at least two people, then revise based on their feedback.
The importance of preparation before an interview cannot be stressed enough. The more you practice, the more confident you'll be. If you successfully answer the most common interview questions, you'll be sure to stand out to employers as a great candidate for the position.
Need more help preparing for your next job interview?
We'd love it if you joined our FREE community. Itâs a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades. More importantly, we have tons of resources inside our community that can help you prepare for your next job interview.
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Got an interview coming up soon? We know you have a busy life, and sometimes thereâs just not enough time in the day to scan through articles to get the information you need. Thatâs why we created the Interview Cheat Sheet! We pulled the best tips, tricks, and advice from our archives and put them all in one place just for you.
Here are eight solid interview tips from our experts:
When you're preparing for your interview, you need to make sure you cover all of your bases. Here are some tips on what to say to a potential employer:
1. Stay away from superlatives.
Keep it singular. Superlatives such as âweakest," âworst,â or âbiggestâ indicate the greatest degree of whatever is it describing. âBiggest weaknessâ is the weakness of the highest degree implying there are other weaknesses of varying degrees but weaknesses nonetheless. That begs the question: âWhat are some others?â Likewise, âneed most to improveâ implies there are others areas for improvement. In any case, try this as an alternative, âIf I had to come up with oneâ¦â (No negatives, no multiples.)
(Original article: 4 Tips To Answer Tough Interview Questions Correctly)
2. Be prepared with questions for the employer.
Each interview takes on a different format, but somewhere along the way, an employer will likely ask if you have any questions. Even if the interview was packed with information, always have questions prepared to ask the employer that have not been touched on or that you can benefit from by having more information.
Asking questions expresses to an employer that you are serious and sincerely interested in the company and position. Asking the ârightâ questions can also help solidify a positive impression. For instance, if you have done the proper research on the company before the interview, you may have knowledge of developments happening at the company or within the industry that may have an impact on the job you applied for. Asking questions that express you are thinking ahead about the job and how certain developments may impact the business demonstrates to an employer that you are a âsmartâ candidate. You are already thinking like you belong in the position and looking ahead at how to address possible challenges. These types of questions can also help the employer see how you fit right in.
(Original article: Information You Must Have Before Your Interview)
3. Show them you did your homework.
One great way to build your interviewing confidence is by conducting plenty of research on the company youâre applying to and the position itâs offering. A common question interviewers ask is, âDo you know anything about our company?â Most times, candidates are forced to answer âNo.â If youâre able to share the companyâs background information and showcase knowledge of its future goals for the position in question, youâll undoubtedly catch the interviewer off guardâin a great way!
(Original article: 3 Ways To Build Confidence For A Job Interview)
Being prepared to answer any question that comes out of the interviewer's mouth is a big advantage in interviews. Here are some questions to go over before your next interview:
1. "How do you handle stress?"
Interviewers are generally looking for an answer that indicates you can handle multiple priorities and projects at the same time. An answer stating that stress is a natural part of life and you feel equipped to handle the challenges of the job and balance them with the rest of your life may just be the answer that earns you the job.
(Original article: How To Handle Tough Interview Questions)
2. âTell me about yourself.â
What the hiring manager is really asking: âHow do your education, work history, and professional aspirations relate to the open job?â
How to respond: Select key work and education information that shows the hiring manager why you are a perfect fit for the job and for the company. For example, a recent grad might say something like, âI went to X University where I majored in Y and completed an internship at Z Company. During my internship, I did this and that (name achievements that match the job description), which really solidified my passion for this line of work.â
(Original article: How To Answer 7 Of The Most Common Interview Questions)
3. "Tell me about a time when you did ______."
Just because youâve never done something doesnât mean you canât do it. And it surely doesnât mean you canât excel at it. If youâre asked a question about prior experience regarding something youâve never done, the best way to answer isnât to say âNo, Iâve never done that,â or âNo, I donât have experience in that area.â The best way to handle the question is to say something along these lines: âWhile I have not had any direct experience in XYZ, I am a fast learner, and I am confident that I could (do, manage, direct, handle, etc.) XYZ successfully and exceed your expectations.â
An effective way to enhance your previous confident response would be to share with the hiring manager about a time when you did do something very similarâor something that could in some way relate to the experience they are asking you about. However, no matter how you approach the question, be sure to emphasize that youâre confident you can do whatever it is theyâre asking you about, and provide examples as to why you feel that way.
(Original article: #1 Interview Question You Must Answer Correctly)
Even after the interview is over, you need to go the extra mile to impress the employer. Here are some post-interview tips:
1. Follow up with a thank-you note.
Send thank-you notes to all the individuals with whom you had a conversation. Do not send one note to just the hiring manager. You will miss out on all the other contacts that you made. Even a note to the receptionist/office manager is appropriate and helpful but only if you had more of a conversation, not just a âhello.â Make the notes unique to each individual based on the conversation you had with them. Remind them of the conversation you had. Also, in each thank-you note, remind the contact why you bring value to the company/team/position and show your enthusiasm.
As the hiring process progresses or slows, stay in touch with your contacts as appropriate. If the process has slowed, begin to follow up about every two business weeks. Too soon and it will be considered overkill. Much later than two weeks and youâll be forgotten.
(Original article: How To Follow Up After An Interview)
2. Use the three-paragraph rule.
Your follow-up email should be short, sweet, and personalized. Generally, a good rule of thumb for the length is three paragraphs, with no more than two to three sentences in each paragraph.
First paragraph: Briefly thank them for their time and reiterate your interest in the position.
Second paragraph: Discuss a couple of your strengths and how the company would benefit if you were hired. Consider using bullet points to break up your text.
Third paragraph: Include any points of clarification you might have. Include answers to questions that you werenât able to answer during the interview, or add new info about yourself that was left out of the interview.
But, remember, keep it brief. Vicky Oliver, author of 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions, suggests indicating your next point of contact by saying something along the lines of âLook forward to hearing from you within the next two weeks.â If no date was set at the interview, either ask for one or specify you will loop back to them for a decision in two weeks.
(Original article: 6 Tips For Following Up After A Job Interview)
We know how difficult it can be to ace a job interview. We hope our Interview Cheat Sheet helps you prepare for your next one so you can stand out to the hiring manager and land the job. If you're still not feeling confident, we can help.
We'd love it if you joined our FREE community. Itâs a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades. More importantly, we have tons of resources inside our community that can help you prepare for your next job interview.
It's time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!
This article was originally published at an earlier date.
